Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics — 1920 edition of the association football tournament during the Olympic Games
The 1920 Olympic football tournament marked the first time a non-European nation (Egypt) competed, and ended controversially after Czechoslovakia walked off the final.
Key Facts
- Number of participating nations
- 15
- Gold medalist
- Belgium
- Silver medalist
- Spain
- Bronze medalist
- Netherlands
- Final abandoned at minute
- 39th minute, Belgium leading 2–0
- Times football on Olympic schedule
- 5th time
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
As the first Olympics following World War I, the Central Powers were excluded from the Games. The English FA had also withdrawn from FIFA but was permitted to enter a Great Britain team. Fifteen nations participated, including Egypt as the first non-European entrant, expanding the tournament's global scope.
Belgium hosted the 1920 Olympic football tournament, winning gold after the final was abandoned in the 39th minute when Czechoslovakia, playing in their first international competition, walked off to protest the refereeing while trailing 2–0. Czechoslovakia was subsequently ejected and denied the silver medal. Britain, previous gold medalists in 1908 and 1912, were eliminated in the first round by Norway.
Belgium took gold, Spain silver, and the Netherlands bronze after a restructured playoff among beaten quarter-finalists was required due to Czechoslovakia's ejection. The controversial abandonment of the final raised questions about sporting conduct, while Czechoslovakia's disqualification meant no silver medal was awarded for that edition of the tournament.
Result
at Antwerp, Belgium